Just 18 km from Rostov there is the striking Borisoglebsky monastery. It is perfectly preserved, especially considering its advanced age. The massive walls of the monastery cause some bewilderment: do monks really need such reliable protection from worldly vanities? Borisoglebsky Monastery of the Yaroslavl Region is a real fortress with its towers, gates and loopholes. After all, the troubled time in which he was erected was overshadowed by Tatar raids, princely feuds, and Polish invasions.
The emergence of the monastery
The monastery was founded during the time of Dmitry Donskoy in 1363 by the Novgorod monks Fedor and Pavel. The blessing for its construction was given by Sergius of Radonezh himself. A small wooden monastery was built on a hill near the small river Ustye. The patron saints
Boris and Gleb, who were widely revered in Russia at that time, were chosen as patrons of the future church. Its territory was surrounded by fortified walls, and church buildings were built inside. The new Borisoglebsky monastery in the Yaroslavl region quickly gained good fame, pilgrims reached it.
Vasily II the Dark, Grand Prince of Moscow, found refuge here, and later baptized his son, the future heir to the Russian throne, Ivan III. And the legendary Relight in these walls took his tonsure. The brightest page of the monastery is the life of the Monk Irinarch. He was born in 1547 in the neighboring village of Kondakovo. Until 30 years he lived in peace, bore the name of Elijah, and then came to the Rostov Borisoglebsky monastery.
Irinarh the Recluse
In the Borisoglebsky monastery of the Yaroslavl region, he took tonsure and began to be called Irinarkh. Here, in fervent prayer, he was illuminated with a sign to live for God, and after a while he received a blessing for his achievement - a voluntary shutter. In a tight cell, bound with chains and shackles, hung with crosses and taming the flesh with an iron stick, he worked diligently for the glory of the Lord. Irinarch spent “imprisonment”, continuously praying for salvation, 38 years. He possessed the gift of foresight and special fearlessness: he predicted an attack by the Poles on Russia to Tsar Vasily Shuisky, and Sapege, the Polish hetman, would soon die if he did not get out of Russian land. To the leaders of the people's militia, Minin and Pozharsky, he sent a blessing to the battle and one of his crosses. Irinarch’s spiritual feat was appreciated by his contemporaries, his angels “marveled at his patience,” and his suffering astounded all of Russia. Everywhere they went to him for blessing, healing, miracles. Posthumously Irinarch the Recluse was canonized and elevated to the rank of revered saints.
Stone building
After the complete dilapidation of wooden buildings, the Borisoglebsky Monastery in the Yaroslavl Region began to “dress” in stone in 1522. The reconstruction of the holy monastery was organized by the Rostov architect Grigory Borisov. In the XVII century, large-scale construction took place at the direction of Metropolitan Ion Sysoevich of Rostov. All existing buildings were rebuilt, new ones were erected. The monastery turned into a powerful fortress that defended the western border of Russia. Its walls are unique: their duration is more than 1 km, thickness up to 3 m, height 10-12 m; they are adapted for both military operations and religious processions. Along the perimeter, 14 towers were built. The highest of them is located in the north-east, in height it reaches 38 m. There are 2 gates in the fence: the north and the south. Over the north in the XVI-XVII centuries, the Sretenskaya Gate Church was erected, characterized by lightness, elegance and beauty. Over the south in 1679 the Sergiev Gate Church was built, which received its name in honor of Sergius of Radonezh. The oldest building dates back to 1526 - this is the building of the Borisoglebsky Cathedral. It is here that the holy relics of the Monk Irinarch, the monks-founders of Fyodor and Paul, rest.
The princes of Moscow highly valued the Borisoglebsky monastery and revered it as a "home". In the XVIII century, the monastery became the center of local settlements, craft industries were actively developed here, lush fairs were held. At the end of the century, Catherine II transferred a significant part of the monastery lands to her favorite, Count Orlov. At that time, most of the values ​​of the monastery were plundered and sold. But by the beginning of the 20th century, the monastery gained a stable position, it was revered by both the authorities and pilgrims.
Soviet time
The advent of Soviet power was marked by the general persecution of the church and religion. Despite the fact that in 1924 the Borisoglebsky monastery of the Yaroslavl region was abolished, divine services continued until 1928. The monastery belfry miraculously escaped destruction, some of the values ​​managed to be forwarded to the Rostov Kremlin and the Tretyakov Gallery. And yet, most of the sacred relics were irretrievably lost. What only "interpretations" did the Borisoglebsky monastery not undergo! Since 1930, a police hostel and a post office, a savings bank and grain warehouses, garages of the district consumer union and a power station were located here, production of confectionery and sausages was established. Since 1970, the monastery has become a branch of the Rostov Museum-Reserve.
Our days
The Borisoglebsky monastery of the Yaroslavl region, according to the description of ancient written sources, retains its appearance from the end of the 17th century. In 1989, he began to act as a parish church. Divine services in it were restored in 1990, and in 1994 it was completely revived. Today, the existing man’s monastery shares its territory, temples and buildings with a museum. Since 2015, the cloister has been entirely left to the administration of the Orthodox Church. The complex includes several monastery buildings, bearing the title of architectural monuments, perfectly preserved, but, unfortunately, very slowly restored. Hence the numerous reviews of visitors to the monastery about the atmospheric, some neglect and dilapidation of this holy place.
Amazing find
Architect Alexander Rybnikov is a famous person in Borisoglebsky. Since the late 80s, he carried out restoration work on the territory of the monastery. And when in the 90s of the last century a group of restorers accidentally fell into an indeterminate cavity, an internal wall passage was accidentally opened. The entrance to it was blocked by the overlap of the XVIII century, and when it was opened, the arch of the XVI century, perfectly preserved to this day, was opened to public attention. Under it were niches in which fragments of ancient frescoes were neatly laid. Rybnikov calls his work both the test of God and joy, but the incident in his practice to this day delights him.
Tours of the monastery
The guide of the Borisoglebsky Monastery of the Yaroslavl Region, Natalya Sheina, won the nomination “The Best Guide” in 2016. A team of professionals gathered the richest materials about the Borisoglebsk hieromonks, the past and present of the holy monastery. A tour of the grounds can be booked at the church shop located at the entrance. Check in advance whether it includes visits to the temples, as sometimes they are closed to tourists.
In the Rostov Kremlin Museum, which shares the territory with the monastic brotherhood, you can see photos of the Borisoglebsky Monastery of the Yaroslavl Region in different years of its existence, get acquainted with its history, learn about the life of novices. Information is presented in interesting and informative presentations.
Important information: during the procession, access to the monastery is limited, churches are closed. Respect this.
Divine services in Borisoglebsky Cathedral
The brotherhood's first concern was the restoration of the holy spring in the revived monastery. Thanks to the help of the residents of Borisoglebsky village and Ivanovsky village, a small well and a bathhouse were built during the summer holidays. The fame of its healing power is widespread, therefore it is crowded at any time of the year. Then they restored the cell of the great saint Borisoglebsky recluse Irinarch. And in 1997 they made the 1st Irinarkh procession, which became an annual tradition. The course lasts 5 days and has an official website, which contains information about the time and place of events. For more than 10 years, the hierodeacon, 3 hieromonks, 2 monks and 3 novices have been working in the monastery. They revived the holy tradition on Sundays, after the Divine Liturgy, to go around the monastery walls with a procession. From Easter to the Intercession, monastery brethren and parishioners, pilgrims and local residents go around the walls. The crayfish of the Monk Irinarch serves a moleben with Akathist.
The schedule of services in the Borisoglebsky Monastery of the Yaroslavl Region is schematically presented in the table.
| Day of the week | Start of worship | End of worship |
| Weekdays | 7.30 | 7 p.m. |
| Weekends and holidays | 8.00 | 21.00-21.30 |
The revival of singing
People come to Rostov the Great to venerate the miraculous icons, bow to the holy relics, feel the blessed power of life-giving sources and the life-giving cross. And more recently, it has become possible to enjoy a special church singing called “The Great Rospev”. Its long history begins with the name of Metropolitan of Rostov Varlaam Rogov, who in 1587 headed the Rostov Department, later renamed the Metropolis.
According to the researcher of ancient Russian music N.P. Parfentieva, Varlaam godmothers verses are distinguished by many lengthy intrasyllabic melodic turns. From the XVII century in Rostov, and then throughout Russia, partisan singing spreads. Until the beginning of the 20th century, singing church practice was a very diverse picture, both in repertoire and in power of performance.
In the post-revolutionary period, when most churches and monasteries were abolished, simple everyday singing began to be practiced. Since the 1990s, thanks to the efforts of B.P. Kutuzova, during divine services, the famous singing is being reborn. In the summer of 1997, a new inhabitant, a student of Kutuzov, the future father of the Borisoglebsky monastery of the Yaroslavl region, Sergei Shvydkov, appeared in the holy monastery.
His forces gradually restored the “monophony”, which he speaks of as a casket with precious stones, when the melodies endowed with their own color are added to a palette, a colored mosaic. Some services in the monastery are entirely performed in the technique of the "Great Rospev". Hieromonk Sergius along with the followers of V.P. Kutuzov will be given concerts, popularizing the famous chant. For this, a choir was organized, a school for boys and men. I would like to give a few phrases of the hieromonk, staff clergyman Sergius about the chant, most clearly characterizing his attitude to the monophony: "... mood ... peace of mind ... inner peace ... there is no limit to sadness or joy ... glee ... spiritual joy ... prayer unification of people ...". The Rostov Borisoglebsky Monastery in the Yaroslavl Region, Father Sergius Shvydkov and the famous chant are an indivisible manifestation of spiritual life.
Walk outside the walls of the monastery
The walls of the Borisoglebsky monastery hide the most beautiful monuments of ancient Russian architecture. But outside them, in the village of the same name, there are interesting, noteworthy places, or rather, monuments:
- In 2005, a monument was installed to Prince Dmitry Pozharsky, sculptor Mikhail Pereyaslavets. The height of the bronze bust mounted on a marble pedestal is more than 4 m. In the distant 1612, Pozharsky came to Irinarkh for blessing in order to lead the people's militia.
- Then, in 2005, Zurab Tsereteli erected a sculpture of the monk Borisoglebsky monastery, the hero Alexander Peresvet. The height of the bronze warrior is 3 m. His mortal duel with Chelubey strengthened the Russian spirit before the Battle of Kulikovo.
- In 2006, another Tsereteli monument was unveiled. At his own expense, the sculptor made a 3-meter bronze statue to Irinarkh the Recluse and presented it to Borisoglebsky village.
- In 2007, the only monument to the Boyar. I am prince. Voivode ”to Mikhail Skopnik-Shuisky. The composition of Vladimir Surovtsev depicts a commander who has not lost a single battle, riding a horse. Before all the campaigns, he received a blessing from Irinarch.
The modern life of the monastic fraternity
The monks living in the Borisoglebsky monastery of the Yaroslavl region carry daily obedience both in the refectory and in the boiler room, melt the stoves, and look after the garden and the garden on their territory. And the monks also have their own apiary. The monastery takes an active part in the Pogost program, restoring and improving regional cemeteries, supports the Svyatogor military-patriotic club for children and youth, and the Slavs spiritual and moral club for preschool children, and publishes the Monastic Frontier newspaper.
Borisoglebsky monastery in the Yaroslavl region, how to get there
Address Borisoglebsky monastery: Yaroslavl region, Borisoglebsky district, Borisoglebsky, pl. Soviet, 10.
Federal highway M-8 leads to Rostov the Great. To get to the monastery, you must get from Rostov to the village of Borisoglebsky. There are several ways to do this:
- by transport on the Rostov-Uglich highway;
- by bus, leaving from the bus station or Rostov railway station in the direction of Borisoglebsky.
Miracles or grace of God
Locals to this day are confident in the sanctity of this amazing place. They say that St. Irinarch with his prayers expelled all the reptiles 7 miles from the monastery, and the snakes were never seen here. Another story tells of the mysterious disappearance of the worship cross and the holy spring at the beginning of the revolution. And when a team of restorers in the 1990s carried out a unique work here to straighten a practically destroyed wall, it not only came off at the right places at the seams, but also independently returned to the place with great speed. Whether it is miracles, one can only guess. But the fact that the Borisoglebsk heart beats precisely here, within the walls of his monastery, remains a completely obvious fact.